Zambia Targets To Reduce Green House Emissions By 47%

By Paul Shalala

The Barotse Flood Plains in western Zambia

Zambia intends to spend US$50 billion to reduce green house emissions by 47% in the next 15 years.

According to the country’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat, Zambia intends to raise US$35bn from external sources and the remainder from domestic sources.

An INDC is a primary means for governments to communicate internationally the steps they will take to address climate change in their respective countries under the forthcoming Paris Conference.

In the past four months, Zambia has been holding provincial meetings for technocrats to craft INDC proposals which culminated into the final document which has since been submitted to the UNFCCC.

Zambia is a party to the UNFCCC Convention and upon submission of its INDC, became the 105th country in the world to forward its document to the UNFCCC Secretariat. 

According to Ministry of Lands Public Relations Officer Diniwe Zulu, Zambia’s INDC presents mitigation and adaptation efforts based on the national circumstances and desire to become a high middle income and prosperous nation by 2030.

“The successful implementation of Zambia’s INDC will result in an estimated emission reduction of 47percent against the 2010 base line," said Zulu.

"In Mitigating the impact of climate change, Zambia intends to reduce its Carbon dioxide emissions by implementing three programs driven by the country’s climate response strategy and supported by national development policies including energy, forest ,agriculture, water, town and country planning, sanitation and transport.”

 

Zambia already suffers from the effects of climate change.

Currently, the country is suffering an unprecedented levels of loadshedding owing to reduced water levels in the Kariba Dam which has been blamed on reduce rain fall in the last rain season.

In various parts of the country, reduced rain, floods and soil erosion are common sites.

NDI, FODEP Partner To Monitor Voter Registration Exercise

A registration officer issuing out a voters' card

By Paul Shalala

The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) and the United States-based National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) have partnered on a US$50, 000 project to monitor the on-going mobile issuance of National Registration Cards (NRCs) and voters cards.

The two institution announced the development in Lusaka a day ago and this collaboration is not the first of its kind in the promotion of good governance in Zambia.

According to the draft strategy of the project dubbed "Go Out to Register," the campaign seeks to contribute to the increase of voter registration in 28 selected districts from nine of Zambia's 10 provinces.

Southern is the only province which will not be covered in the project.

The project will also try to promote the participation of key stakeholders to help increase turn out of eligible voters.

"Voter registration is vital to the public’s interest in establishing a government based on the people’s will and also vital to those who seek to gain public office as it is a key element for screening ineligible people out of the voting process and for identifying and credentialing eligible individuals so that they may have the opportunity to vote," said MacDonald Chipenzi, FODEP Executive Director during a press briefing.

He added: "it delights me to launch this very important projects aimed at contributing to a deepening democratization in Zambia through increased popular participation of citizens in the electoral process by contributing to the attainment of the registration of 1.7 million voters by 7th July 2016."

MacDonald Chipenzi

This project will be implemented in Lusaka, Rufunsa, Luangwa, Chiawa, Chinsali, Nakonde, Shiwangandu,  Senanga, Sesheke, Kazungula, Kasama, Mpulungu, Mbala, Luwingu, Kafulafuta, Ndola, Kitwe, Chililabombwe, Mufulira, Kapiri Mposhi Chisamba, Chibombo, Mansa, Mwense, Lubwe and Chembe districts.

And FODEP Civic Education Chairperson Clement Zulu has expressed concern that the third and fourth phases of the voter registration exercise will be held in the rain season which can affect turn out. 

"FODEP is cognisant of the fact that much of the 1.7million targeted new voters account for youths between the age of 17 and 35 years. To this end, FODEP will engage with schools and establish school chapters at which schools would compete with each other in a manner that sends messages to encourage young people to register. FODEP will also appreciate theatre and creative art to get its message across. A total of 480 volunteers will be empowered with voter education facilitation skills in 29 districts of the 7 provinces." said Mr Zulu.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) launched the voter registration exercise on 14^th September, 2015 targeting to register 1.7 million new voters across the country by March, 2016.

The exercise is being done in four phases which will run as follows:

A voter displaying his voters' card in Luanshya

•  First phase started on 14^th September 2015 and runs for 14 days until 27^th September, 2015.
• Second Phase started on 29^th September, 2015 and ended on 11^th October, 2015. 
• Third phase from 11 October 2015 to 25 October 2015
• Fourth phase from 26 October to 11 November 2015

 In the first phase of the exercise, the ECZ announced that 301, 103 new voters were registered while thousands more had their lost or damaged voters' cards replaced.

The exercise has however been hampered in some provinces were thousands of potential first time voters can not register as they do not have NRCs.

The mobile issuance of NRCs is also been implemented in phases in the provinces. 

Triple V Campaign Launched To Discourage Apathy In 2016 Polls

By Paul Shalala

B Flow performing at a Triple V event in Kabwe

A consortium of Zambian civil society organisations has launched the Triple V Campaign to encourage young men and women to turn up in huge numbers and cast their votes during the 2016 general elections.

Triple V is a short form for My Vote, My Voice, My Victory.

The campaign, which is being spearheaded by the Zambia National Women's Lobby, Operation Young Vote, Anti-Voter Apathy Project and the Young Women in Action, will see a series of countrywide public events such as road shows and meetings to encourage more people to vote.

This campaign comes at a time when Zambia has seen some of its lowest voter turn out in parliamentary by-elections held this year.

Macky 2 sensitising the public in Chipata

The donor funded campaign has so far held public meetings in Chipata and Kabwe.

On the official launch of the campaign in Chipata on 5th September, local rapper Macky 2 mesmerised the crowds with music which was punctuated by messages of encouragement for young people to vote.

 "Never take everything for granted. Appreciate every opportunity that you have in life. We are here to educate you on how to involve yourselves in the governance of the country. On 14th September you should register to become a voter. You should always remember that voting is your right and vote for whoever you want. Voting is a secret," said Macky 2.

Macky 2 was later joined on stage by popular comedian Bikiloni who charmed the crowds with his mouth watering jokes.

Bikiloni in action in Chipata

In his trademark Nyanja jokes, Bikiloni occasionally picked members of the crowd and asked them questions while hammering home the message.

And on 3rd October, the Triple V Campaign shifted to Kabwe where Comet Grounds in Africa's second largest slum Makululu was brough to a standstill.

Fresh from a three months stint as a 2015 Mandela Washington Fellow in the US, B Flow sensitised the public on the need for them to register as voters and turn up in huge numbers to elect their new MPs, Councillors and President next year.

B Flow, whose real name is Brian Bwembya, is a musician who focuses on social issues such as Gender Based Violence and gender equality through his #Music4Change project which US President Barack Obama even acknowledged during his Town Hall with the 2015 Mandela Fellows a month ago.

B Flow charming the crowd in Kabwe

The Triple V Campaign has enlisted a number of famous comedians, musicians and personalities to attract more people to their countrywide meetings as they sensitise the public on the need to avoid apathy in 2016.


The campaign will in the coming months hold similar sensitisations in Kitwe, Choma and Mongu before the end of this year.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia is currently registering new voters and replacing voters cards for those who lost or damaged their previous cards.

The exercise, which commenced on 14 September, is expected to end on 11 November but it will continue at District Councils countrywide until end of March 2016.

Zambia is next year scheduled to hold a general election where Members of Parliament, Councillors and a President will be elected.

Zambian Pastors Pray For Country's Currency To Regain Value



The Zambian Kwacha

By Paul Shalala

The Pastors Fellowship in the mining town of Kitwe on Wednesday held an inter-denominational prayer session to pray for the Zambia kwacha to regain its strength against manager convertible currencies

In the past 10 days, the value of the kwacha has been fluctuating and it was trading in the range of K11 and K13 to the US dollar.

This has raised concern as traders and businessmen have increased prices for several products and services.

Over 50 Pastors, who converged at Oasis of Love Ministries International in Nkana East, prayed that the kwacha should regain value and bring back normality to the national economy and inspire confidence in Zambians.

In his prayer, Pastor Kautemba Phiri called on Zambians to stop speculating about the currency as it has the potential to reduce its value.

Pastor Phiri, who is Senior Pastor at Oasis of Love Ministries International, said as men of God, Pastors will be in the forefront to build confidence for the kwacha.

"We prophecy that the kwacha will regain its strength. We prophecy that the economy of Zambia will soon be back to its glory days. We pray that this nation will continue to prosper," prayed Pastor Phiri.

The Pastors later broke into individual prayers where the building was engulfed in noise as the men of God prayed in tongues.

And Pastor Charles Muzala, has urged government to come in and help the church rid itself of false prophets and pastors.

Pastor Muzala said some unscrupulous men of God are turning the image of the church by performing fake miracles.

"We are tired of these fake Pastors. We are tired of the church being called names. We ask the government to partner with us to get rid of these who are denting the image of God's church," he said.

He also pledged on behalf of the Kitwe Pastor's Fellowship to spearhead the National Day of Prayer and Fasting on 18 October in Kitwe as declared by President Edgar Lungu. The day will be marked by prayers and fasting across the country to ask God to intervene in the current economic crisis the southern African country is going through.

Pastor Muzala also announced that the Pastors Fellowship was in the process of erecting huge crosses at the entrance to Kitwe on the Ndola-Kitwe dual carriageway and along the Kitwe-Chingola road.

Chanda Kabwe

Earlier, Kitwe District Chanda Kabwe called on the church to guide the nation in the governance of the nation.

Mr Kabwe said the church should also help in praying for the nation over various challenges it is going through.



"Why should we have fake prophets and suspicious miracles? Why should we have fake Pastors in the church of the Lord? This should come to an end," said Mr Kabwe.

 

Hundreds Of Kitwe Youths May Be Defranchised In 2016 Elections

By Paul Shalala

ECZ Chairperson Esau Chulu being registered as a voter

Hundreds of young people in Kitwe are being turned away by voter registration officers when they show up at registration centers to register as voters.

The youths, who think that the officers are issuing both National Registration Cards (NRCs) and voters cards, may be defranchised next year during the general elections.

The on-going voter registration exercise which started on September 14 and closes on November 11 this year, is capturing new voters and replacing damaged or lost voters cards.

In some areas, this exercise is going hand in hand with the mobile issuance of National Registration Cards.

But on the Copperbelt, the mobile issuance of NRCs is yet to start and hundreds of potential young voters are being turned away at registration centers for not having NRCs.

Government has grouped provinces to receive mobile NRC teams in phases.

In Buchi ward, potential first time voters have been left out.

"Here in Buchi we have a challenge. Young people are eager to vote but they have no NRCs. They have been coming to Buchi Hall thinking they are also giving NRCs but they are being turned away," said Buchi Ward Councillor Bibian Nyeleti who was found at the registration center.

In neighbouring Lubuto ward, the situation is the same.

"There has not been much publicity about voters' cards here. But youths are coming in their hundreds and they are being turned away because they have no NRCs. We are appealing to government to bring the mobile insuance of NRCs here," said Mwila Mutale, Lubuto Ward councillor in an interview.

Godfridah Chulu

And Kitwe Deputy Mayor Godfridah Chulu, who recently toured registration centers in the city, has joined the call for the immediate issuance of mobile NRCs on the Copperbelt.

"The turn out across Kitwe is good but our worry is the young people who have no NRCs. They are eager to vote but they can not register. We appeal to the government to quickly move in and help the youths of Kitwe," said Mrs Chulu, who is also Lubwa Ward Councillor.

On Saturday, Chief Government Spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili said he would liaise with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Electoral Commission of Zambia to find a solution to the delayed issuance of NRCs in some provinces.

The first phase of the voter registration exercise came to an end on Sunday and the following day,  registration officers moved to their next centers.

At each registration center, officers are spending 14 days in the hope of capturing 1. 6 million new voters to bring the total of registered voters in the voters’ register to 6.8 million people.

Over 2,000 Ichimpe Forest Settlers Sue Kalulushi Council Over Land

By Paul Shalala in Kalulushi

Over 2, 000 settlers of Ichimpe Forest in Kalulushi have dragged the local authority to the Kitwe High Court for not implementing a full council resolution which called for the issuance of residential
plots to them.

According to an affidavit in support of ex-parte notice of application for leave to apply for judicial review and originating notice motion for judicial review, the applicants want the council to immediately
give them the plots.

The applicants, who are led by Moses Walima, have submitted before the court that they have been paying the Kalulushi Municipal council to issue them offer letters from as far back as 2010 but nothing has happened.

Mr Walima says the settlers have further been angered by the presence of Chinese investors who have started placing beacons and constructing wall fences to close off land they have bought.

And Ichimpe ward Councillor Evaristo Mwalilino has threatened to resign if the settlers in Ichimpe Forest are not awarded the plots they have been occupying.

Mr Mwalilino says it is unfair for the full council meeting to pass a resolution which management at the local authority has failed to implement.

When reached for a comment, the Kalulushi Municipal Council refused to comment saying they were still consulting with their lawyers as the case is now in court.

But in a earlier letter written by Kalulushi Acting Town Clerk Josephine Simwinga addressed to the Ichimpe settlers, the council told them that the passing of a council resolution does not warrant an immediate action.

Initially, the area was a forest until when statutory instrument number two of 2007 was passed to degazet part of Ichimpe forest to accommodate the settlers.

The statutory instrument only allowed the settlers to conduct farming activities and not reside there.

Since then, the settlers have been farming carrots, vegetables and other crops.

For over seven years, the settlers have been pushing for the Kalulushi Municipal Council to allow them to move in and get title to the land.

On 23rd June 2015, a full council meeting resolved that settlers be given plots in Bwafwano upper and Kankomo area for residential purposes.

However, since then, the local authority has not implemented its own resolution and the settlers are not happy.

China, Japan Pledge Towards Peacekeeping Operations In Africa

By Paul Shalala in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Chinese peacekeepers in Mali

China and Japan have joined several African states in pledging support towards peacekeeping operations on the African continent.

Japan, which still has a post World War II pacifist constitution, has pledged US$40 million and engineering equipment to support African Union and United Nations-led missions on the continent.

The Asian nation, cannot dispatch soldiers to peacekeeping missions as it is not allowed by its 1945 constitution to take part in military missions abroad.

During the African Regional Meeting on Peacekeeping operations held at the Ethiopian Peacekeeping Coordination Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia last week, the Japanese Embassy in Addis Ababa disclosed that it would provide the heavy equipment as soon as possible.

China, whose influence is growing increasingly on the continent, has pledged to continue providing troops for peacekeeping missions.

“China is committed to Africa’s stability. We will continue providing soldiers to maintain peace in Africa. At the moment we have 2, 600 soldiers serving in several peacekeeping operations in Africa,” said a Chinese official at the meeting.

Ethiopian President Dr. Mulatu Teshome opening the meeting

China sent a uniformed delegation of senior officers from the People’s Liberation Army to the two-day meeting.

The country’s role in peacekeeping operations in Africa is increasingly being tied to its huge appetite for Africa’s minerals which is badly needed for its growing economy.

The two day meeting was opened by Ethiopian President Dr. Mulatu Teshomo and brought together Defence Ministers and Chiefs of Staff from over 30 African countries and 10 foreign donor countries such as China, Japan, USA, UK, France and others.

The meeting, which was jointly organised with the United Nations,, was hosted to find ways of increasing the rapid deployment capabilities of African countries.

United Nations Military Advisor on Peacekeeping Operations General Maqsood Ahmed said the global body is facing challenges in deploying troops quickly when a crisis breaks out.

General Maqsood Ahmed

“It is not easy to quickly deploy forces on the ground. It takes 30, 60 or 90 days to mobilise, deploy and operationalised peacekeepers. We need to fasten the process to save lives and maintain peace,” said General Ahmed, a Pakistan military chief who has vast experience in peacekeeping operations worldwide.

During the meeting, US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Holt called for the protection of civilians in conflict areas.

“We have so many people who are affected in conflicts. However, what is of paramount importance is the protection of civilians. We should ensure that when we deploy forces, their mandate must be to keep the peace and protect civilians,” said Holt.

Cameroon, Burundi, Liberia, Madagascar and Sierra Leone are some of the African countries that pledged battalions, platoons and Police units to beef up the existing and future peace missions.

Zambia, which was represented by Defence Minister Richwell Siamunene and senior Army and Air Force officers, pledged to continue supporting peace missions.

“I want to reaffirm my country’s commitment to the maintenance of peace on the continent. Your Excellencies, Zambia has sent peacekeepers to Liberia, Sierra Leone and now Central Africa Republic,” said Mr Siamunene, as he addressed the gathering on its final day.

Richwell Siamunene

“You will recall that in 2007 my country hosted the SADC Standby Brigade. This is further commitment that we are ready to do even more.”

Meanwhile, the African Union has disclosed that the long awaited operationalisation of the Africa Standby Force is scheduled for October in South Africa.

African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security Smail  Chergui says the standby force will be able to quickly deploy anywhere in Africa to respond to conflicts and emergencies.

“We are hopeful that once this force is operationalised, we will be able to respond to crises quicker and promptly anywhere on the continent,” said Mr Chergui.

The meeting heard from experts that of the various regional standby military brigades, East Africa and West Africa had advanced while other regions were still struggling to make their forces ready for action.